Deficiency of a kidney metalloproteinase activity in inbred mouse strains.

Kidneys from BALB/c mice contain a potent metalloendoproteinase, termed meprin, that is active against large proteins as well as small peptides. The enzyme is present in mouse strains C57BR/cdJ, C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, A/J, DBA/IJ, CD/l, Swiss, and ICR. Three related inbred strains, CBA/J, CBA/CaJ, and C3H/He, are markedly deficient in this enzymatic activity. This is the first report of a heritable deficiency of an intracellular proteinase in mammalian tissues. Meprin deficiency appears to have arisen as an early event in the development of the C stock. Furthermore, meprin is present in the progeny of a cross between a meprin-sufficient female (C57BL/6) and a meprin-deficient male (C3H/HeN), an indication that the trait for the deficiency is recessive.